Method for playing a game with side wager

ABSTRACT

The method of playing a game with a side wager comprises a method for playing a game having at least one player and one dealer, the game using multiple decks of cards. The method further comprises determining whether at least one player has made a main wager to participate in a hand of the game being played, giving that at least one player an opportunity to place a side wager prior to dealing cards to that at least one player and to the dealer, determining whether that at least one player has placed the side wager, dealing a hand of cards, determining whether a winning hand exists, and if yes, then paying that at least one player having the winning hand based on the side wager, forfeiting the side wager to the dealer if no winning hand exists, and continuing to play the hand.

This application claims benefit to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/494,280 filed Jun. 7, 2011, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a flow chart illustrating a method for playing a game with side wager according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a promotion card illustrating main features of a game conforming to the method of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a promotion card illustrating main features of another game conforming to the method of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention generally provides a method for playing a casino table game with side wager. The present invention may provide additional payouts for all players who participated in the side wager regardless of their dealt hands.

Referring now to the FIG. 1, a flow chart illustrates a method 10 for playing a table game with side wager according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The method 10 may include actions performed by a dealer and by one or more players.

The method 10 may start in step 11. In step 11, the dealer may inform a player about of a side wager. In step 12, the dealer may determine whether the player made a main wager. In step 13, the dealer may give the player an opportunity to place the side wager. In step 14, the dealer may determine whether the player placed the side wager. In step 15, a hand may be started. In step 16, the dealer may determine whether a winning hand exists. In step 17, the dealer may pay the player who has the winning hand. In step 18, the dealer may pay all other players who placed side wagers. In step 19, the side wager is forfeited if no winning hand exists. In step 20, the game may continue.

Referring now to the FIG. 2, a promotion card of a “Community Pairs” game 30 is shown. The “Community Pairs” is a side-bet for the game of Blackjack, where everyone might be a winner if one player gets a pair of “Suited Aces”. The “Community Pairs” side bet may be an optional wager placed in addition to a regular blackjack bet. The side bet may be placed before the start of each hand. All winning side bets may be paid after the first two cards are dealt to all players regardless of the Dealers hand. All other side bets may be collected at this time and the regular game of Blackjack resumes. Table 1 shows the associated pay out for the winning combinations of the “Community Pairs” side bet wager.

TABLE 1 Winning combinations Pay out Suited Aces 40 to 1 Suited Pair (other than aces) 25 to 1 Any Colored Pair (Any pair of different suits but same color) 10 to 1 Any Pair Unsuited (Any pair of different suits)  5 to 1 Community Pair  2 to 1

Referring now to FIG. 3, a promotion card of a “Community Stud Poker” game 40 is shown. The “Community Stud Poker” is a side bet for the game of poker, where everyone can be a winner if one player gets a Royal Flush, Straight Flush or Four of a Kind. The Community Stud side bet may be an optional wager placed in addition to the regular poker bet. The side bet may be placed before the start of each hand. All winning side bets may be paid after the first five cards are dealt to all the players regardless of the dealer's hand. The players may not be limited to a $1 wager and may bet up to the casino maximum. There may only be one community payout per player per hand. Table 2 shows the associated pay out for the winning combinations of the “Community Side Bet for Stud Poker” wager.

TABLE 2 Winning combinations Pay out Royal Flush (Community Royal Flush pays 1000 to 1) 2000 to 1  Straight Flush (Community Straight Flush pays 250 to 1) 500 to 1  Four of a Kind (Community Four of a Kind pays 50 to 1) 200 to 1  Full House 50 to 1 Flush 30 to 1 Straight 20 to 1 Three of a Kind 10 to 1 Two Pair  3 to 1 Jacks or better  1 to 1

The disclosed method 10 may be incorporated into most table games such as, live table games, virtual table games, online table games and server based table games. The method 10 may adapted to accept the wagers from a progressive jackpot systems, RFID table chip and tracking devices and casino accounting systems.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for playing a game having at least one player and one dealer, the game using multiple decks of cards, the method comprising: determining whether at least one player has made a main wager to participate in a hand of the game being played; giving said at least one player an opportunity to place a side wager prior to dealing cards to said at least one player and to the dealer; determining whether said at least one player has placed said side wager; dealing a hand of cards; determining whether a winning hand exists, and if yes, then paying said at least one player having said winning hand based on said side wager; forfeiting said side wager to the dealer if no winning hand exists; and continuing to play said hand. 